US8793953B2ActiveUtilityA1

Clip-on connection system for stay-in-place form-work

94
Assignee: RICHARDSON GEORGE DAVIDPriority: Feb 18, 2009Filed: Feb 17, 2010Granted: Aug 5, 2014
Est. expiryFeb 18, 2029(~2.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:George David RichardsonSemion Krivulin
Y10T29/49879E04B 5/40E04B 2/8652E04B 1/6116E04G 17/02E04B 2/8641E04C 2003/0465E04C 2003/043E04C 2003/0447E04C 2003/0417
94
PatentIndex Score
21
Cited by
180
References
30
Claims

Abstract

A stay-in-place form-work for casting a concrete structure comprises a plurality of elongate panels interconnectable in edge-to-edge relationship via complementary connector components on their longitudinal edges to define at least a portion of a perimeter of the form-work. The panels include a first panel having a first connector component incorporating a receptacle, and a second panel having a second connector component incorporating a protrusion. The first and second panels are connectable to one another in edge-to-edge relationship by: effecting a loose-fit connection by extending the protrusion of the second connector component into the receptacle of the first connector component; loosely seating a clip onto the first and second connector components; and pushing the clip against the first and second connector components to reach a locked configuration wherein restorative deformation forces associated with the clip act to retain the first and second connector components in the locked configuration.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stay-in-place form-work for casting a structure from concrete or other curable construction materials, the stay-in-place form-work comprising:
 a plurality of elongate panels connected in edge-to-edge relationship to define at least a portion of a perimeter of the form-work, the plurality of panels comprising a first panel connected via an edge-to-edge connection to a second panel, the first panel comprising a first edge component and the second panel comprising a second edge component, the first and second edge components engaging one another; and 
 a clip comprising first and second arms, the clip engaging the first and second edge components in a locked configuration wherein the clip is resiliently deformed such that the clip exerts restorative deformation forces against the first and second edge components to thereby maintain the edge-to-edge connection in the locked configuration; 
 wherein the first edge component comprises a projection, the second edge component comprises a receptacle and the engagement between the first and second edge components comprises an extension of the projection into the receptacle. 
 
     
     
       2. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein the engagement between the first and second edge components comprises a loose-fit engagement wherein extracting the projection from the receptacle requires deformation of at least one of the first and second edge components. 
     
     
       3. A form-work according to  claim 2  wherein a force required to deform the at least one of the first and second edge components and to extract the projection from the receptacle is greater than the force of gravity on either of the first and second panels. 
     
     
       4. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein the extension of the projection into the receptacle comprises deformation of at least one of first and second edge components. 
     
     
       5. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second arms of the clip is coated with a sealant material. 
     
     
       6. A form-work according to  claim 5  wherein the sealant material is co-extruded with the clip. 
     
     
       7. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of at least one of the projection and the receptacle is coated with a sealant material. 
     
     
       8. A form-work according to  claim 7  wherein the sealant material is co-extruded with a corresponding panel of the plurality of panels. 
     
     
       9. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the first and second edge components are coated with a sealant material. 
     
     
       10. A form-work according to  claim 9  wherein the sealant material is co-extruded with a corresponding panel of said plurality of panels. 
     
     
       11. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second arms of the clip define a receptacle and the first and second edge components extend at least partially into the receptacle of the clip. 
     
     
       12. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein the first arm of the clip exerts restorative deformation force against the first edge component and the second arm of the clip exerts restorative deformation force against the second edge component. 
     
     
       13. A form-work according to  claim 12  wherein the first arm comprises a first distal portion which extends into a corresponding first concavity in the first edge component and the second arm comprises a second distal portion which extends into a corresponding second concavity in the second edge component. 
     
     
       14. A form-work according to  claim 13  wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first distal portion and the first concavity is coated with a sealant material and at least a portion of at least one of the second distal portion and the second concavity is coated with a sealant material. 
     
     
       15. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein the clip is located on an exterior of the form-work opposite a region in which the structure is cast. 
     
     
       16. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein the clip is located on an interior of the form-work in a region in which the structure is cast. 
     
     
       17. A form-work according to  claim 1  wherein the panels are shaped to define a recess in which the first and second edge components are located when the first and second edge components are engaged. 
     
     
       18. A form-work according to  claim 17  where the clip comprises a flange which covers an entrance to the recess. 
     
     
       19. A form-work according to  claim 17  wherein the clip is shaped to fit into the recess. 
     
     
       20. A stay-in-place form-work for casting a structure from concrete or other curable construction materials, the stay-in-place form-work comprising:
 a plurality of elongate panels connected in edge-to-edge relationship to define at least a portion of a perimeter of the form-work, the plurality of panels comprising a first panel connected via an edge-to-edge connection to a second panel, the first panel comprising a first edge component and the second panel comprising a second edge component, the first and second edge components engaging one another; and 
 a clip comprising first and second arms, the clip engaging the first and second edge components in a locked configuration wherein the clip is resiliently deformed such that the clip exerts restorative deformation forces against the first and second edge components to thereby maintain the edge-to-edge connection in the locked configuration; 
 wherein the first arm of the clip exerts restorative deformation force against the first edge component and the second arm of the clip exerts restorative deformation force against the second edge component; 
 wherein the first arm comprises a first distal portion which extends into a corresponding first concavity in the first edge component and the second arm comprises a second distal portion which extends into a corresponding second concavity in the second edge component; wherein the locked configuration engagement between the clip and the first and second edge components is a snap-together engagement wherein removing either of the first distal portion of the first arm from the first concavity or the second distal portion of the second arm from the second concavity requires deformation of the clip in a direction opposed to the restorative deformation force. 
 
     
     
       21. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein the first and second arms of the clip define a receptacle and the first and second edge components extend at least partially into the receptacle of the clip. 
     
     
       22. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein the first edge component comprises a projection, the second edge component comprises a receptacle and the engagement between the first and second edge components comprises an extension of the projection into the receptacle. 
     
     
       23. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first distal portion and the first concavity is coated with a sealant material and at least a portion of at least one of the second distal portion and the second concavity is coated with a sealant material. 
     
     
       24. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second arms of the clip is coated with a sealant material. 
     
     
       25. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein at least a portion of the first and second edge components are coated with a sealant material. 
     
     
       26. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein the clip is located on an exterior of the form-work opposite a region in which the structure is cast. 
     
     
       27. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein the clip is located on an interior of the form-work in a region in which the structure is cast. 
     
     
       28. A form-work according to  claim 20  wherein the panels are shaped to define a recess in which the first and second edge components are located when the first and second edge components are engaged. 
     
     
       29. A form-work according to  claim 28  where the clip comprises a flange which covers an entrance to the recess. 
     
     
       30. A form-work according to  claim 28  wherein the clip is shaped to fit into the recess.

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